Terminal block and terminal connector

ABSTRACT

The terminal block and terminal connector form part of a terminal block assembly in which one or more terminal blades of the terminal connector are located in one or more apertures of the terminal block for receiving thereon female quick-connect terminal connectors. The terminal blades are connected to a lug which, together with a collar type fastener is received in a cavity of the terminal block, into which a wire conductor can be inserted for the securing of the wire conductor to the lug for supplying electric potential to the blades. The terminal block also has an opening therein which communicates with the cavity and through which a tool can be inserted for fastening or unfastening a wire conductor to the terminal connector.

[ Nov. 27, 1973 TERMINAL BLOCK AND TERMINAL CONNECTOR [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Underwriters Safety Device Co.,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 133,006

Hans Ege, Des Plaines, Ill.

[52] U.S. Cl. 339/198 R, 339/192 R, 339/210 M, 339/262 R, 339/272 RFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Sweden 339/198 H Primary ExaminerMarvinA. Champion Assistant ExaminerRobert A. l-lafer Att0mey-Greist,Lockwood, Greenawalt & Dewey [5 7] ABSTRACT The terminal block andterminal connector form part of a terminal block assembly in which oneor more terminal blades of the terminal connector are located in one ormore apertures of the terminal block for receiving thereon femalequick-connect terminal connectors. The terminal blades are connected toa lug which, together with a collar type fastener is received in acavity of the terminal block, into which a wire conductor can beinserted for the securing of the wire conductor to the lug for supplyingelectric potential to the blades. The terminal block also has an openingtherein which communicates with the cavity and through which a tool canbe inserted for fastening or unfastening a wire conductor to theterminal connector.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUwuvzms 3.775733 sum 2 or 2 INVENTORHANS E GE ATT'YS. 6

TERMINAL BLOCK AND TERMINAL CONNECTOR This invention relates toinnovations and improvements in a terminal block, a terminal connectorand a terminal block assembly formed therewith. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to a terminal block assembly in which a wireconductor can be connected to a terminal connector mounted in a terminalblock and having terminal blades positioned in one or more apertures ofthe block for receiving female quickconnect terminal connectors thereon.

Terminal block assemblies including a terminal block with one or moreapertures therein and with one or more terminal blades positioned withineach aperture for receiving female quick-connect terminal connectorsthereon have been known for some time. However, the known terminal blockassemblies have not provided for the connection of the bare end of awire conductor, solid or stranded, directly to the terminal connector inthe terminal block assembly. Such a terminal block assembly is desirablefor the purpose of directly supplying the terminal blades of theterminal connector with electric potential via the wire conductor sothat a plurality of circuits can be supplied with electric potentialthrough female quick-connect terminal connectors which are each insertedinto one of the apertures of the terminal block and onto one of theterminal blades.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide aterminal block and terminal connector which can be assembled into aterminal block assembly in which both a wire conductor and a pluralityof female quick-connect terminal connectors can be connected to theterminal connector mounted within the terminal block.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal blockwhich is adapted to receive a terminal connector therein, which has atleast one aperture adapted to receive one or more female quick-connectterminal connectors for connection to the terminal connector received inthe block and which has an opening for receiving a wire conductor eithersolid or stranded for connection to the terminal connectorreceivedwithin the terminal block.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal blockas described in the preceding paragraph with an opening for receiving atool for fastening or unfastening a wire conductor to the terminalconnector within the terminal block.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminalconnector which is adapted to be received in a terminal block and whichincludes a terminal strip having a base, one or more terminal bladesextending from the base and a lug connected to the base.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminalconnector as described in the preceding paragraph which includes afastening device for fastening a wire conductor to the lug.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a terminalconnector of the type described in the preceding paragraph in which thelug is offset from the base and the fastening device is collar shapedand is positioned about the lug.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention thereis provided a terminal block adapted for use with a terminal connector,the terminal block having at least one aperture and a cavity formedtherein. Also in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention there is provided a terminal connector adapted for use with aterminal block, the terminal connector including a terminal strip havinga base, at least one terminal blade extending from the base and a lugextending laterally of and from the base, and a fastening device forfastening a wire conductor to the lug.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the presentinvention, reference will now be had to the following description of thepreferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view with a portion broken away of one embodimentof the terminal block and terminal assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the terminal block assembly shownin FIG. 1 and taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view with portions broken away of the terminalblock assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the terminalconnector of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view with a portion-broken away of anotherembodiment of the terminal block assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of theterminal connector of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, one embodiment of theterminal block assembly of the present invention is indicated at 10 inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The terminal block assembly includes a terminal block12, a terminal connector 14, and a retaining plate 16.

The center portion of the terminal block assembly shown in FIGS. 1-3 andof the modified terminal block assembly shown in FIG. 5, is broken awayso as to form a right hand portion and a left hand portion; and theterminal connectors 14 (114 in FIG. 5) have been omitted from the righthand portion of the assembly to better illustrate the constructionalfeatures of the various slots, apertures, openings, cavities, etc., ofthe terminal block 12 (112 in FIG. 5).

The terminal block 12 is provided with conventional end flanges 17through which eyelets 18 are received and staked over for holding theblock 12 and the plate 16 together. The flanges 17 are also providedwith bores 20 through which fasteners (not shown) can be inserted formounting the terminal block assembly 10 in a desired location.

The terminal block 12 has a first or bottom side 21, a second or frontside 22, and a third or top side 23. A plurality of apertures 24, eachhaving a generally rectangular cross section, extend into the terminalblock from the top side 23 thereof to a point spaced from the bottomside 21. In the illustrated embodiment the terminal block 12 is providedwith four such apertures, 24. Three slots 26a-c communicate with each ofthe apertures 24. As best shown in FIG. 3, the three slots 26a-cassociated with each of the apertures 24 extend into the terminal block12 from the bottom side 21 thereof.

The terminal block also has a plurality of cavities 28 therein equal innumber to the number of apertures 24, with each cavity being alignedwith one of the apertures 24. Three openings 31-33, each of whichcommunicates with the cavity 28 from one side of the block are providedin the block. The first opening 31 is generally square and is located inthe bottom side 21, the second opening 32 is generally U-shaped and islocated in the front side 22, and the third opening 33 is circular andis located in the third side 23 of the block 12. The opening 31 providesor constitutes a passage means for inserting a portion of the terminalconnector 14 into the cavity 28. The opening 32 provides a passage meansfor inserting a wire conductor, stranded or solid, into the cavity 28for the connection of the wire conductor to the terminal connector 14within the cavity 28; and the opening 33 provides a passage means forinserting a tool, such as a screwdriver, into the cavity 28 forfastening and unfastening the wire conductor to the terminal connector14.

Preferably, and as best shown in FIG. 3, the bottom side 21 of theterminal block 12 has a plurality of recesses 34 formed therein equal innumber to the number of apertures 24. Each recess 34 forms a partialextension of the opening 31 and extends across the area on the bottomside 21 of the terminal block 12 where the slots 26a-c associated withone of the apertures 24 are located. Each recess 34 is particularlyadapted to receive oraccommodate a portion of the terminal connector 14as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the U-shaped opening 32 has a restrictedportion at the junction of the opening 32 with the cavity 28. Therestricted portion is defined by internal ribs 35 and 36 and an internalwall 37. The ribs 35 and 36 extend into the opening 32 from the wall 37and together they form retaining shoulders for retaining a portion ofthe terminal connector 14 within the cavity 28. The restricted portiondefined by ribs 35 and 36 and wall 37 also limits the size of the wireconductor which can be inserted through the opening 32 into the cavity28 for being fastened to the terminal connector 14.

Preferably, the top side 23 of the block has a portion 38, onto whichthe openings 33 open, which is separated by a shoulder 39 and offsetfrom another portion 40 of the top side 23 onto which the apertures 24open. This construction is preferred in some embodiments of theinvention to minimize inadvertent insertion of a tool into the apertures24. In this respect, a tool which misses the opening 33 and engages theportion 38 of the top side 23 is prevented from sliding into one of theapertures 24 by reason of the shoulder 39.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the terminal connector 14 includes a terminalstrip 41 and a fastening device 42. The strip 41 includes a base 43 fromwhich three terminal blades 440- extend. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,the blades 44a-c are received respectively in the slots 26a-ccommunicating with one of the apertures 24. The terminal strip 41 alsoincludes a lug 46 which is connected to the base 43 by a connectingportion 48 of the strip 41. In the illustrated embodiment, the fasteningdevice 42 includes a collar 52 and a fastener 54 which is threadinglymounted in overlapping sidewalls 55 and 56 of the collar 52. Thefastening device 42 is positioned about the lug 46 within the cavity 28when the terminal connector 14 and terminal block 12 are broughttogether to form the assembly as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Preferably, and as partially shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the lug 46 isstamped to form bumps or projections 60 on one, the bottom, side of thelug 46. The projections 60 define a gripping means for engaging andgripping a wire conductor. The bottom wall 62 of the collar 52 is alsostamped to form grooves 64 which cooperate and mate with the projections60 on the lug in gripping and holding a wire conductor to the terminalconnector 14. In this respect, when the fastening device 42 and theterminal strip 46 are received within the cavity 28 in the terminalblock 12, the projections 60 are aligned with the grooves 64 so that,when a wire conductor is received within the collar 52 and the fastener54 is threaded into the collar 52, the projections 60 will press intothe wire conductor in an area above the grooves 64 and any displacementof the wire conductor by reason of the pressure applied thereto by theprojections 60, will be displaced into the grooves 64. In this way, theprojections 60 and the grooves 64 form a gripping means for establishinga firm and strong connection between the lug 46, the collar 52 and thewire conductor received between the lug 46 and the collar 52.

In the embodiment of the terminal connector illustrated in FIG. 4, thecollar 52 is formed from a strip of metal which is folded over into theshape shown in FIG. 4. It is to be understood that the collar can beformed from a single piece of metal and can be, for example, an extrudedpart.

In the illustrated embodiment, and as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3,the base portion 43 of each of the terminal strips 41 is received in oneof the recesses 34, while at the same time the blades 44a-c of eachstrip 41 are received in the slots 26a-c communicating with one of theapertures 24. The lug 46 and connecting portion 48 of the strip 41 andthe fastening device 42 are received within the cavity 28. The fastener54 of the fastening device 42 is received within the opening 33 and inthe illustrated embodiment has a slotted head adapted to be engaged by ascrewdriver for fastening and unfastening a wire conductor within thecollar 52 and against the lug 46. The collar 52, when inserted into thecavity 28, will be in general alignment with the restricted portion ofthe opening 32 as best shown in FIG. 2. It will be apparent from FIG. 2that a wire conductor is adapted to be received between the bottom wall64 of the collar 52 and the lug 46 and that as the fastener 54 isthreaded through the walls 55 and 56 of the collar 52, the bottom wall45 of the collar is raised toward the lug 46 so as to engage andcompress a wire conductor received between the wall 64 and lug 46.

By having the bases 43 of the strips 41 received in the recesses 34, theretaining plate 16 can fit flush against the bottom side 21 of theterminal block 12 when the plate 16 and the block 12 are fastenedtogether.

Another embodiment of the terminal block assembly of the presentinvention is generally indicated at in FIG. 5. The terminal blockassembly 110 includes a terminal block 1 12 having many features incommon with the terminal block 12 in FIGS. 1-3. In this respect, theterminal block 112 has: end flanges 1 17, through which eyelets 118 arereceived and staked over for connecting the terminal block 112 and aretaining plate (not shown) together; bores 120 through the end flanges117 for mounting the terminal block assembly 112 in a desired location;a bottom side (not shown); a front side 122; and a top side 123.However, instead of having four apertures which are generallyrectangular in cross section and which receive therein a plurality ofterminal blades, the terminal block 112 has four groups of apertureswith each group including four individual apertures 124a-d for eachterminal blade of each terminal connector 1 14. Each of the apertures124ad has a generally oval cross section and extends into the terminalblock 112 from the top side 123 thereof to a point spaced from thebottom side thereof.

Each aperture 124ad communicates with the bottom side of the terminalblock 1 12 through one of four slots 126a-d. It will be apparent fromFIG. 5 that one group of four slots 126a-d is associated with each groupof apertures 124a-4. As a result, in this second embodiment of theterminal block of the present invention each slot 126a, b, c, or dextending into the terminal block 112 from the bottom side thereof opensinto a single aperture 124a, b, c, or d. Also, in this embodiment, thetop side 123 is a planar surface without a shoulder formed thereon sothat the portion of the top side 1233 onto which openings 133 open isnot offset or otherwise separated from the portion of the top side 123onto whichthe apertures 124a-d open.

The terminal connector 1 14 which is received within the terminal block112 includes a terminal strip 141 and a fastening device 142. Theterminal connector 114 differs somewhat from the terminal connector 14shown in FIG. 4 in that the terminal strip 142 has a slightly longerbase 143 from which four terminal blades 144a-d extend. Also, theterminal strip 142 has a lug 146 which is offset a shorter distance fromthe base 143, than is the lug 46 from the base 43, and is connected tothe base 143 by an inclined connecting portion 148.

The fastening device 142 includes an extruded collar 152 and a fastener154 threadingly received through the top wall 155 of the collar 152. Thecollar 152, when mounted within the terminal block 112 is received aboutthe lug 146. In this second embodiment of the terminal block andterminal connector of the present invention, a wire conductor isreceived between the bottom wall 158 of the fastener 154 and the lug 156and, when the fastener is threaded through the top wall 155 of thecollar 152 the bottom end thereof engages the wire conductor receivedwithin the collar 152 and forces the same against the lug 146 to form astrong and firm connection between the lug 146, the collar 152 and thewire conductor received within the collar 152.

Additionally, it is to be noted that the blades 144a and d and theblades 144b and 0 form two pairs of parallel spaced blades which arereceived in two pairs of parallel spaced slots 126a and d and 126 b andc, in parallel spaced apertures 124a and d and 124 b and c. If desired,the terminal block 112 can be modified, i.e., widened, to provide spacefor additional pairs of apertures and slots and the terminal strip 142can be lengthened to include additional pairs of blades whereby a wireconductor connected to the terminal strip can supply electric potentialto more than four terminal blades for supplying electric potential to aplurality of leads having female quick-connect terminal connector on theends thereof.

As shown in FIG. 5, each slot 126a-d extends completely across theaperture 124a, b, c or d. Accordingly, the blades 144a-d are providedwith shoulders 159 which serve as locating means for locating each bladecentrally within one of the apertures 124a-d.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that othermodifications can be made to the terminal block, terminal connector andterminal assembly formed therefrom without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention. For example, in addition to beingenlarged to provide space for more than four terminal blades, the block12 or 112 can be modified as desired from the general rectangular shapeshown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 to a square, oval or circular shape asdesired.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the presentinvention has a number of advantages some of which have been describedabove and others of which are inherent in the invention. Accordingly,the scope of the present invention is only to be limited as necessitatedby the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a terminal block and a terminal connector, saidterminal block having at least one aperture and at least one cavity, andsaid terminal connector including a terminal strip having a base, atleast one terminal blade extending therefrom and received in said oneaperture, and a lug extending laterally of and from said base into saidcavity, and a fastening means received and confined in said cavity forfastening a wire conductor, inserted into said block, so said lug,wherein said terminal strip of said terminal connector includes aplurality of terminal blades extending from said base and said terminalblock has a plurality of slots therein equal in number to the number ofblades of said terminal connector, each blade being received in one ofsaid slots.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said slots communicateswith said one aperture whereby said plurality of blades is received insaid one aperture.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said terminal block has aplurality of apertures therein, the number of said apertures being equalin number to the number of said slots, and each of said slotscommunicating with only one of said apertures.

4. In combination, a terminal block and a terminal connector, saidterminal block including a connectorreceiving portion and a retainingplate secured to said connector-receiving portion, saidconnector-receiving portion having at least one recess adapted toreceive said connector, said recess opening against said retainingplate, said connector-receiving portion having at least one aperture andat least one cavity, and said terminal connector including a terminalstrip having a base, at least one terminal blade extending therefrom andreceived in said one aperture and a lug extending laterally of and fromsaid base into said cavity, and a fastening means received and confinedin said cavity for fastening a wire conductor, inserted into said block,to said lug, said recess and said plate being adapted to snugly retainsaid base in said recess against said plate wherein said terminal stripof said terminal connector includes a plurality of terminal bladesextending from said base and said terminal block has a plurality ofslots therein equal in number to the number of blades of said terminalconnector, each blade being received in one of said slots.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein each of said slots communicateswith said one aperture whereby said plurality of blades is received insaid one aperture.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said terminal block has aplurality of apertures therein, the number of said apertures being equalin number to the number of said slots, and each of said slotscommunicating with only one of said apertures.

and received in said one aperture and a lug extending laterally of andfrom said base into said cavity, and a fastening means received andconfined in said cavity for fastening a wire conductor, inserted intosaid block, to said lug, said recess and said plate being adapted tosnugly retain said base in said recess against said plate, wherein saidterminal connector includes a connecting portion which connects said lugto said base in such a manner that said lug is offset from said base.

1. In combination, a terminal block and a terminal connector, saidterminal block having at least one aperture and at least one cavity, andsaid terminal connector including a terminal strip having a base, atleast one terminal blade extending therefrom and received in said oneaperture, and a lug extending laterally of and from said base into saidcavity, and a fastening means received and confined in said cavity forfastening a wire conductor, inserted into said block, so sAid lug,wherein said terminal strip of said terminal connector includes aplurality of terminal blades extending from said base and said terminalblock has a plurality of slots therein equal in number to the number ofblades of said terminal connector, each blade being received in one ofsaid slots.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said slotscommunicates with said one aperture whereby said plurality of blades isreceived in said one aperture.
 3. The combination of claim 1 whereinsaid terminal block has a plurality of apertures therein, the number ofsaid apertures being equal in number to the number of said slots, andeach of said slots communicating with only one of said apertures.
 4. Incombination, a terminal block and a terminal connector, said terminalblock including a connector-receiving portion and a retaining platesecured to said connector-receiving portion, said connector-receivingportion having at least one recess adapted to receive said connector,said recess opening against said retaining plate, saidconnector-receiving portion having at least one aperture and at leastone cavity, and said terminal connector including a terminal striphaving a base, at least one terminal blade extending therefrom andreceived in said one aperture and a lug extending laterally of and fromsaid base into said cavity, and a fastening means received and confinedin said cavity for fastening a wire conductor, inserted into said block,to said lug, said recess and said plate being adapted to snugly retainsaid base in said recess against said plate wherein said terminal stripof said terminal connector includes a plurality of terminal bladesextending from said base and said terminal block has a plurality ofslots therein equal in number to the number of blades of said terminalconnector, each blade being received in one of said slots.
 5. Thecombination of claim 4 wherein each of said slots communicates with saidone aperture whereby said plurality of blades is received in said oneaperture.
 6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said terminal block hasa plurality of apertures therein, the number of said apertures beingequal in number to the number of said slots, and each of said slotscommunicating with only one of said apertures.
 7. In combination, aterminal block and a terminal connector, said terminal block including aconnector-receiving portion and a retaining plate secured to saidconnector-receiving portion, said connector-receiving portion having atleast one recess adapted to receive said connector, said recess openingagainst said retaining plate, said connector-receiving portion having atleast one aperture and at least one cavity, and said terminal connectorincluding a terminal strip having a base, at least one terminal bladeextending therefrom and received in said one aperture and a lugextending laterally of and from said base into said cavity, and afastening means received and confined in said cavity for fastening awire conductor, inserted into said block, to said lug, said recess andsaid plate being adapted to snugly retain said base in said recessagainst said plate, wherein said terminal connector includes aconnecting portion which connects said lug to said base in such a mannerthat said lug is offset from said base.